Multiple die receptacle for holding dies and for use as a die wrench



Oct. 17, 1961 Filed Dec. 8, 1958 w E. COWLEY 3,004,270

MULTIPLE DIE RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING DIES AND FOR USE AS A DIE WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Oct. 17, 1961 W. E. COWLEY MULTIPLE DIE RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING DIES AND FOR USE AS A DIE WRENCH Filed Dec. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMHHH/ INVENTOR.

United States 3,004,270 MULTIPLE DE RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING DES AND FOR USE AS A DE WREN'QH William E. Cowley, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Vermont American Corporation, a corporation of Kentucky Filed Dec. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 778,756 Claims. (Cl. -114) The present invention relates to improvements in hand tools, and particularly, to a combination holder and wrench for dies such as are employed in cutting screw threads.

The object of the invention, broadly stated, is to provide an improved assembly of a plurality of dies and means for holding and manipulating the same, the improved assembly being exceedingly simple and economical, providing for compact and exact storage of the dies, facilitating use of the dies, and providing a wrench for forcibly applying any one of the dies to a work piece.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved assembly of the character described comprising an elongate body member having a plurality of identical sockets therein, a die removably positioned in each socket and held therein against relative rotation, the dies all having identical external dimensions whereby the same may be placed indiscriminately in said sockets, and a cover frictionally engaged with said body memher for normally retaining said dies in said sockets, said cover being readily movable to accommodate removal and/or relocation of the dies relative to the body to facilitate application of a given the to a work piece and use of the body as a wrench in manipulating the given die.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved die holder and wrench as above defined wherein each socket extends through the body, is internally shouldered adjacent one face of the body and includes a major portion inwardly of said shoulder that is of noncircular cross-section, each die has an external configuration complementary to said major portion of the sockets for non-rotatable reception therein and support on said internal shoulder, and the sockets are spaced from and independent of one another, whereby a given die may be placed selectively in any one of said sockets and said body may be employed as a single arm wrench of variable effective length and as a double arm wrench in manipulating a given die relative to a work piece, irrespective of the other dies and said cover and their association with or removal from the body.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an improved tool .as defined wherein said cover is retained on said body solely by virtue of frictional engagement therewith and is adapted to be readily detached from or moved slidably relative to said body to facilitate manual access to said dies or selected ones thereof and selective placement of any one of said dies in any one of said sockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tool as defined wherein each die bears indicia on at least one face thereof, and said cover has openings therein all of the same size normally aligned respectively with said sockets, said openings being smaller than the said major portion of said sockets but of a size adequate to reveal said indicia.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved tool as defined comprised essentially of three components, namely, a unitary body casting, a onepiece cover, and the dies, the body being of a thickness to receive in the sockets thereof the entirety of each die and said cover fitting snugly against the side of the body to which said major portions of the sockets open.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will ice 2 become apparent in the following detailed description.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of making and using my improved tool, I shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of my tool and the preferred manners of making and using the same.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the preferred embodiment of the tool of the invention, the view being taken from the top of the tool and illustrating one manner of use thereof with the body serving as a single arm wrench;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view taken from the bottom of the tool;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view taken from the same angle as FIGURE 1 and showing the die retaining cover after slidable movement thereof to permit access to a given die, and also showing that die removed from the body;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tool;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section taken centrally of the tool; and

FIGURE 6 is a further perspective view illustrating the tool in use with the body serving as a double arm wrench.

Referring now to the drawings, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as consisting solely of an elongate body member 10, a plurality of dies 12 adapted to be stored in the body, and a cover 14 for normally retaining the dies in the body, these three components being detachably associated with one another for facile, assembly, disassembly and rearrangement.

The body 10 preferably comprises a unitary casting, suitably zinc, which in the embodiment illustrated is generally rectangular in plan and of a width toreceive a single row of dies. The form of body is not especially critical; it could well be of I-shape, or of a width to receive two rows of dies. It is preferred, however, that the body be of a width to be comfortably received within the handof a user, that it be elongate so that it may be used as a wrench, that it be adapted for reception centrally thereof of a die so that it may be used as a double arm wrench having arms of equal length, and that it be balanced to opposite sides of its center to facilitate this latter use. The body is relatively thick and is provided thoughout the length thereof with a plurality of sockets 16 which extend transversely through, i.e., through the thickness dimension, of the body and are open at both faces of the body. Five equally spaced sockets are provided in a longitudinal row in the pre ferred embodiment of the invention to satisfy the above stated objectives. The sockets are all identical and are uniformly spaced from and independent of one another, thereby to define lateral reeinforcing or rigidifying ribs 18 in the body. Each socket is stopped adjacent one face of the body to provide an internal shoulder 20 therein. From the shoulder to said one face ofthe body, the sockets may be circular or of any otherdesired crosssectional configuration. To the opposite side of the shoulder, in the portion thereof of greater cross-sectional area, each socket is of non-circular cross-section, and preferably of the cross-sectional configuration of a regular polygon. This portion of each socket, i.e., its major portion, is of a depth equal approximately to the thickness of the dies 12, and is of generally uniform dimension from the shoulder 20 to said opposite face of the body 10, except for the draft required to facilitate casting of the body.

The dies 12 may suitably comprise successive sizes of dies for forming screw threads on studs, or like die means. The dies all have identical external dimensions and are all of an external configuration exactly complementing the non-circular or polygonal cross-section of the major portion of the sockets 16, whereby the dies may be removably positioned or stored in the sockets indiscriminately, and whereby the dies may be shifted from socket to socket as desired. When positioned in a socket, each die is received entirely within the socket and is held therein against relative rotation by virtue of interengagement of the complementary, non-circular walls of the respective socket and die The cover 14 preferably comprises a unitary sheet metal stamping of a length no greater than the body, of generally U-shape in cross-section, and of a size complementing the cross-sectional configuration of the body It). The legs of the cover normally are engaged resiliently and fric tionally with the sides of the body and the bight portion thereof normally engages the face of the body to which the major portions of the sockets open, thereby to retain the dies in the sockets. The cover 14 is retained on the body solely by virtue of the resilient frictional engagement of its legs therewith, and the sides of the body are preferably tapered, downwardly and inwardly relative to the last-named face of the body, to a slight degree to assist in retaining the cover on the body, as is illustrated in FIGURE 5. Consequently, the cover is adapted to be slid along the body member or removed, either by longitudinal sliding movement or by transverse movement relative to the body, to accommodate access to selected ones or all of the dies and sockets. To reduce resistance to sliding movement, the legs of the cover are preferably provided with a number of point-like indentations 22 which constitute the sole contact of the legs with the body. The bight portion of the cover 14 is provided with spaced openings 24 therein, which in the normal position of the cover relative to the body are aligned respectively with the sockets 16. These openings are of a size smaller than the sockets, whereby portions of'the cover overlie the dies, but larger than the opening in the largest die thereby to permit use of the dies without disassociation of either the cover or the dies from the body 10. V

In its preferred embodiment, the cover 14 is of a length equal approximately to the longitudinal distance between the axes of the sockets provided adjacent the ends of the body 10, and the ends of the bight portion thereof are cut out in such fashion, preferably in semi-circular form, that the end margins of the cover inscribe approximately onehalf of the respective end sockets in the body. The remainder of the openings 24 are suitably circular and each inscribe respective ones of the sockets 16. To facilitate still further the use of the dies 12, the dies are preferably provided on the outer face thereof with indicia 26 and the openings 24 in the cover are of a size to reveal said indicia while the cover is in overlying relation to the marginal portions of the dies. The openings in the body at the opposite or small ends of the socket are preferably of the same size as the openings 24 for the purpose stated.

When the component parts of the tool are assembled, as shown in FIGURE 1, the body 10 acts as a storage rack for the dies 12, and the cover 14 retains the dies in the body against loss, misplacement and unnecessary abuse. When it is desired to use a die, the proper die may readily be selected from the indicia thereon, which are visible through the openings 24. If desired, the die may be applied directly to the stud to be threaded without disturbing the assembly, the body of the tool serving as a hand grip and wrench in effecting application of the die to the stud. Normally, however, the cover 14 will be slid partially along the body to permit removal of the selected die, as illustrated for example in FIGURE 3, whereby the die per so may be manually applied to and started on the stud. When threading resistance increases to such extent as to require use of a wrench, the body 10 itself constitutes the wrench. In this connection, the body may be applied to the selected die in any one of a number of man- 4 ners. In the first instance, the die could be re-inserted in the socket from which it was removed, i.e., the second inboard socket in the example, here given, the cover closed and the die reapplied to the stud using the body 10 as a single arm wrench of relatively short lever arm. Alternatively, the die in the end socket could be shifted to the socket from which the selected die was taken and the selected die inserted in the end socket, whereupon the body 10 could be employed as a single arm wrench of relatively long lever arm, as represented in FIGURE 1. As a further alternative, the center die could be shifted to the socket from which the selected die was taken and the selected die inserted in the center socket, whereupon the body could be employed as a two-arm wrench (see FIG- URE 6) for completing threading of the die onto the stud. Also, if desired, the cover 14 could be removed from the body 10, either by sliding the same longitudinally off the body or pulling the same transversely off the body, removing all of the dies and using any selected one of the sockets'16 as a receptacle for the selected die, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, to constitute the body a wrench of such character and lever arm as mig .t be desired from time to time in the threading operation. Irrespective of which socket the die is placed in, the die is conformably received in the socket in driving engagement with the body whereby the body may be employed as a wrench. When the thread is completed, the tool is readily reassembled to constitute a storage rack for the dies.

Thus, the invention affords an exceedingly compact tool of a size not significantly larger than required simply for storage of the dies, and which serves not only as a storage receptacle but as a single arm wrench of variable lever arm and as a double arm wrench for forcibly applying a selected die to a stud. The tool is comprised of a minimum number of parts each of simple construction, and the parts are so made and assembled as to facilitate ready assembly, disassembly and rearrangement thereof, whereby the objects of the invention are obtained in a convenient, economical and practical manner.

While I have shown and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be appre'ciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. A tool consisting of an elongate body member having a plurality of identical transverse sockets therein throughout the length thereof, said sockets being spaced from and independent of one another and each including 'a portion of non-circular cross-section openin to one side of said body and a portion of reduced size opening to the opposite side, a die removably positioned in said portion of each of said sockets, said dies all having identical external dimensions and being of an external configuration oomplementary to said non-circular portion of said sockets, whereby said dies may be positioned indiscriminately in said sockets and shifted from socket to socket and each die is held aga nst relative rotation in the socket in which it is positioned, and a cover of a length no greater than said body frictionally engaged with said body and overlying said one side thereof for normally retaining said dies in said sockets, said cover being movable relative to said body to facilitate access to said dies and sockets and shifting of said dies from socket to socket, whereby said body may be employed as a single arm wrench of variable length and as a double arm wrench in applying any selected one of said dies to a Work piece, said cover having openings aligned respectively with said sockets in the normal position of said cover relative to the body.

2. A tool consisting of an elongate body member having a plurality of identical transverse sockets therein throughout the length thereof, said sockets being spaced from and independent of one another,.each of said sockets extending transversely through the body and being internally shouldered adjacent one face of the body, each socket including a major portion of non-circular crosssection extending from said shoulder and opening to the opposite'face of said body, a die removably positioned in the major portionof each socket and resting on the shoulder therein, said dies all having identical external dimensions and being of an external configuration complementary to said major portion of said sockets, whereby said dies may be positioned indiscriminately in said sockets, and shifted from socket to socket and each die is held against relative rotation in the socket in which it is positioned, and a cover detachably mounted on said body in engagement with said opposite face thereof for normally retaining said dies in said ockets, said cover being no longer than said body, being of generally U-shape in cross-section and complementing the cross-sectional configuration of said body, the legs of said cover frictionally engaging the sides of said body and retaining said cover on said body solely by frictional engagement therewith, said cover being movable relative to said body to facilitate access to said dies and said sockets and shifting of said dies from socket to socket, whereby said body may be employed as a single arm wrench of variable length and as a double arm wrench in applying any selected one of said dies to a work piece, said cover having openings in the bight portion thereof aligned respectively with said sockets in the normal position of said cover relative to said body.

3. A tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cover is of a length equal approximately to the longitudinal distance between the axes of the sockets provided adjacent the ends of said body, the ends of the bight portion of said cover have cut outs therein defining openings that are normally aligned with and inscribe approximately one-half of respective onces of the sockets provided adjacent the ends of said body, and the remainder of said openings are apertures that are normally aligned with and inscribe respective ones of the remainder of said sockets.

4. A tool as set forth in claim 3, wherein said dies have indicia on at least the outer faces thereof, and said cut outs and apertures are of a radial dimension less than at least the greatest radial dimension of said dies but sufliciently large to reveal said indicia.

5. -A tool consisting of an integrally cast elongate body, a plurality of dies to be stored in said body, and a sheet metal cover for normally retaining said dies in said body,

said body being relatively thick and having a plurality of identical sockets extending through the thickness dimension thereof throughout the length of said body, said sockets being spaced from and independent of one another, each of said sockets being internally shouldered adjacent one face of the body and including a major portion of non-circular cross-section extending from said shoulder to the opposite face of said body, each of said sockets removably receiving one of said dies in said major portion thereof with the respective die resting on the shoulder therein, said dies being of a thickness equal approximately to the depth of said major portion of said sockets to be received fully therein, said dies all having identical external dimensions and being of an external configuration complementary to said major portion of said sockets, whereby said dies may be positioned indiscriminately in said sockets and shifted from socket to socket and each die is held against relative rotation in the socket in which it is positioned, said cover being of generally U-shape in cross-section and complementing the cross-sectional configuration of said body, the legs of said cover frictionally engaging the sides of said body and retaining said cover on said body solely by frictional engagement therewith, said cover being of a length equal approximately to the longitudinal distance between the axes of the sockets provided adjacent the ends of said body, the bight portion of said cover engaging said opposite face of said body and normally extending from end socket to end socket for retaining said dies in said sockets, said cover having openings therein aligned respectively with said sockets in the normal position of said cover relative to said body for accommodating use of said dies while in said sockets, said cover being slidable on and removable from said body to facilitate access to said dies and said sockets and shifting of said dies from socket to socket, whereby said body may be employed, either with all of said dies and said cover or independently thereof, as a single arm wrench of variable length and as a double arm wrench in applying any selected one of said dies to a work piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 252,060 Sherman Jan. 10, 1882 1,663,103 Thompson Mar. 20, 1928 1,771,811 Nelson July 29, 1930 

